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Academic Research

BPS Employee Research Requests and Authorization

As a learning organization, Bismarck Public Schools encourages continued education and academic research. Many requests are received asking permission to conduct surveys or asking for data samples that can be used to investigate and evaluate programs and processes. The following information pertains to all graduate-level research that is part of a degreed/accredited program.

Research regarding our BPS educational practices and the effect of those practices on student achievement is only a win/win if we are clear about the research questions. It is also important for the researcher to report back on the results and recommendations. Gathering and arranging data can be one of the most time consuming parts of research and this typically falls on our limited assessment and evaluation staff. In an effort to streamline these requests the process for gaining approval is as follows:

(1) Complete the following survey form outlining your study.
(2) Your study will be reviewed by the Executive Team, typically within two weeks.
(3) If your study is authorized you will receive information regarding a contact for data or next steps.
(4) You will be required to submit an executive summary of your results that can be posted to this website area so we can all learn from your work.

Note: BPS does not provide student data that would include individually identifying information (e.g. student numbers).

BPS Employee Research Approval Form
All research involving BPS staff or students must be approved. Please complete the following questions.
































Current Academic Research
Author Research Description Hypothesis/Question(s) Audience/Methods Estimated Completion/Results
Chad Even To determine the effectiveness of the Activboard in the regular education classroom.
1. Does the Activboard increase student engagement during a lesson? 2. Does the Activboard engage various learning styles and provide differentiated instruction to meet the various students' needs? 3. Are Activboards more beneficial than standard whiteboards ?
BPS Teachers with ActivBoards. Survey of teacher perceptions regarding instructional practices since receiving an ActivBoard. Executive Summary
Eliza Brown To determine the extent to which online multiplication simulations enhance student fluency of basic multiplication facts. 1.To what extent does online fact practice contribute to student growth?
2.How do online multiplication simulations play a part in the transfer of facts to various math skills?
3.To what extent does the gaming atmosphere of online websites contribute to student fact fluency?
[Note: My study is primarily focusing on multiplication fact fluency. However, my hypothesis is that by strenghtening my students fact fluency, other mathematical concepts will be strengthened as students carry over fact knowledge into other various areas of math.]
Students in author's classroom. Pre/post student perception surveys, observation, analysis of classroom math scores. Executive Summary
Tom Eberle The purpose of this study is to determine whether the Northwest Evaluation Association Measure of Academic Progress (NWEA MAP) assessment is an appropriate measure to use as a precursor to the North Dakota State Assessment (NDSA) to help ensure secondary schools meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). 1.What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress as part of the North Dakota secondary schools assessment strategies?
2.To what extent do North Dakota secondary school districts use the Northwest Evaluation Association Measures of Academic Progress (NWEA-MAP) assessment?
3.To what extent can performance on the North Dakota math and reading assessment for high school students be predicted from Rasch Unit (RIT) scores?

Administrators August 2010




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